A healthy diet focuses on nutritious, well-balanced meals that are low in calories and full of vitamins and nutrients. Several different approaches to healthy dieting exist depending upon your lifestyle. Be sure to choose a healthy diet plan that fits within your current lifestyle in order to increase the odds of long-term success.
MyPyramid
MyPyramid is a diet and meal-planning tool created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The dietary recommendations used by the free online MyPyramid tool, found at MyPyramid.gov, are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a comprehensive governmental health report based on proven scientific research and studies on the topic of good nutrition.
Mayo Clinic Diet
The Mayo Clinic Diet was created by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic health organization. This diet focuses on eating well-balanced meals based on the Mayo Clinic Food Pyramid, which recommends consumption of an unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables each day and a limited amount of grains, low-fat dairy and lean meats/protein sources.
DASH Diet
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, program was created by the American Heart Association in an effort to help people lower their blood pressure to healthier levels. This highly-nutritious, low-calorie diet plan focuses on foods high in fiber and low in sodium.
SlimKids for Kids and Teens
This doctor and dietitian-approved diet plan for kids and teens teaches kids about portion control and healthy food choices. This flexible diet program allows kids to eat their favorite foods, such as hot dogs, hamburgers and other popular foods, but only in small amounts. SlimKids also promotes daily exercise for kids.
Vegetarian Diet Plan
The vegetarian lifestyle has been endorsed by many reputable health organizations, including the American Dietetic Association and MayoClinic.com. This low-calorie lifestyle can be a highly nutritious way to live, although MayoClinic.com recommends paying special attention to nutrients that are commonly lacking in a meatless diet, including calcium, protein, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, omega-3 fatty acids, iodine and zinc.
South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet became popular around 2000 when it was first introduced by an American doctor, Dr. Arthur Agatston, who developed this dietary program for his patients who were overweight and had cardiovascular issues, such as heart disease. The South Beach Diet takes a low-calorie approach to dieting, and it limits consumption of sugary and starchy foods during the first few weeks of starting this program.
Nutrisystem
Around since the 1970s, Nutrisystem has survived longer than many other commercial diet plans because of its simplicity and healthy meal plans. Nutrisystem delivers pre-made meals straight to your door for those who prefer not to cook.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an industry giant that is traded publicly on the stock market. This weight-loss program uses an easy-to-follow point system to help simplify dieting. Each food is given a point value, and you must stay within your point limits in order to be successful at this program.
Low-GI Diet
The Low-Glycemic Index Diet plan focuses on choosing foods that fall on the lower end of the glycemic index, or GI. These are foods that contain carbohydrates that produce only small fluctuations in blood glucose levels, so it's beneficial for reducing the risk of heart disease and for long-term weight loss, according to the Glycemic Index Foundation. Low-GI foods include bran cereals, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, pasta and oats.
Low-Sugar Diet
A diet low in sugar is an approach to limiting the number of calories you consume each day. Sugar contains empty calories that provide you with little or no nutritional value. These empty calories often get stored as fat in the human body. Eliminating many of the sugary treats and sodas you consume each day can reduce your daily caloric intake by 500 or more calories in many cases.
For instance, cutting back on your morning cappuccino with whipped cream and your afternoon 20-oz. bottle of soda can reduce your daily caloric intake by about 500 calories, or the equivalent of a half pound, of body weight per week.
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